Minji Lee 'Consecutive Victory'... "Challenging World No.1 Ranking" (Comprehensive)

Defeating Alison Lee at BMW Ladies Championship
10th Career Win... $330,000 Prize Money Cheers
Lydia Ko 3rd, Jeongeun Lee6 and Shin Ji-ae Tied 5th

Minjee Lee (Australia) reached double-digit career wins.

On the 22nd, at the 4th round of the LPGA Tour BMW Ladies Championship (total prize money $2.2 million) held at Seowon Hills Course, Seowon Valley CC, Paju, Gyeonggi Province (Par 72, 6,647 yards), Minjee Lee scored 4 under par but was tied with Allison Lee (USA) at 16 under par 272. However, on the first hole of the playoff resumed at the 18th hole (par 4), she made a 1.8m 'winning birdie'. This was her second win of the season and 10th career victory, two months after the Kroger Queen City Championship last September. The winner's prize money was $330,000 (approximately 450 million KRW).

Lee Minji is cheering immediately after winning the BMW Ladies Championship in a playoff.
[Photo by BMW Korea]

Minjee Lee became the third Australian player in history to achieve 10 wins on the LPGA Tour. Karrie Webb has 41 wins, and Jan Stephenson has 16 wins. She said, "I was co-leader until the 3rd round, so I wanted to start with a birdie early today, but I couldn't. As a player, I want to compete for the win every week, and I enjoyed playing while enjoying that situation."

This is the first time Minjee Lee, whose parents are both Korean, has won on home soil. She shared a special feeling, saying, "Korea is the place I wanted to win the most, and since my parents are all Korean, it is where my roots are. It was amazing and nice to have my grandmother, family, and relatives here even during the playoff." Her younger brother, Minwoo Lee, is also active as a professional golfer.

Minjee Lee has been working with caddie Brad Beecher, who has long worked with golf legend Inbee Park, since this summer. She said, "Since he is also Australian, we have a lot in common and good chemistry. I expect to continue this good relationship in the future." When asked about her career goals, Minjee Lee expressed her ambition, saying, "I have not yet been world No. 1. I want to achieve that." Minjee Lee is currently ranked 7th in the world, with her personal best ranking being 2nd last year.

Allison Lee performed well by lowering her score by 5 strokes but was satisfied with her career-best runner-up finish. Defending champion Lydia Ko (New Zealand) failed in her attempt for a second consecutive win, finishing 3rd at 14 under par 274. Korea’s Jeongeun Lee6 recorded one eagle and four birdies (one bogey), finishing tied for 5th place (12 under par 276), her best personal result this year. Jiyai Shin also tied for 5th, Jieun Shin tied for 10th (11 under par 277), and amateur Seojin Park performed well, tying for 13th (10 under par 278).